In times of war, doubt, and despondency, it becomes clear that those who trust in God will not be disappointed. For District Apostle Helper João Misselo from Angola, faith writes the stronger story.
“Don’t be afraid. Just believe!” This year’s motto is based on Mark 5: 36. In an uncertain and unreliable world, many people are dominated by fear. Yet we are guided by the example of Jesus Christ and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures remind us of the young David, as well as Daniel and his companions.
As I reflected on this motto, I thought about the great difficulties our country, Angola, has experienced. The civil war that followed independence lasted around 27 years. This conflict—one of the longest in history—claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Angolans and left many people fearful of the future.
At that time, the 33-year-old Apostle Armin Brinkmann was sent to Angola to spread the New Apostolic faith. His mission was extremely challenging. He faced accidents and ambushes that even led to deaths. But his courage paved the way for us to move forward without fear—to believe and trust in God.
We ourselves were ordained at a very young age and under difficult circumstances. For years, we served in the most severely affected areas. The Apostle was our role model because he was not afraid. We followed his example and drew inspiration from his courage, which helped us fulfil the tasks connected with our ministries.
At times, serving God and seeking to strengthen our faith felt futile. We faced discouragement, made sacrifices for His work, and wrestled with despair—yet saw no visible results.
To continue serving without fear, we found encouragement in the story of Daniel and his companions—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who refused to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s statue and were thrown into the fiery furnace.
I was recently deeply impressed by a divine service conducted by our Chief Apostle. He recalled the story of a young man, a poor shepherd, to whom something extraordinary happened. His name was David, and he was a brave young man who felt protected by God Himself. Although David served King Saul loyally, the king sought to kill him, fearing that David would challenge his position and take his throne. Forced to flee, David sought refuge in a dark cave. Yet in the end, God delivered him: Saul fell at the hands of his enemies, and David ascended the throne as king.
Today, the world may seem like a dark cave. We observe that the future appears uncertain. Nations are rebelling against one another, and life is becoming increasingly difficult. Often, the good we do goes unrecognised. The devil lies in wait around us and attacks our hearts. Self-centredness is on the rise. Marriages are entered into not for love, but for other interests.
Let us be aware: the spirit of the times seeks to separate us from God. Let us follow the example of Christ, who never separated Himself from His Father. Even in the most difficult moments, He remained in constant communion with Him. Let us follow the example of David, who trusted only in God.